Costumer



April 18, 1939. R. B. CURTISS COSTUMER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 23, 1936 R..B. Cur-tiss.

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFHCE 3 Claims.

The invention appertains to supports, and more particularly, to clothes racks known as costumers.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an extensible costumer which, when extended, affords accommodation for a consider ably greater number of garments than the ordinary costumer, and which may be collapsed to assume the general form and appearance of the ordinary costumer which usually comprises a single post or standard.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extensible and collapsible costumer of particularly simple, sturdy and inexpensive construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an extensible costumer, improved bracing means which, when extended, rigidly brace the complemental sections of the costumer against accidental collapsing, at least one of said bracing means being adapted to supporta relatively large number of so-called garment hangers or the like, at an elevation above the floor which insures against contact of the garments with the floor when suspended from the support, and having suflicient strength to bear the weight of heavy garments such as overcoats, topcoats, etc.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved folding brace, characterized by its adaptation to assume a rigid or locked condition automatically when fully extended, and which may be released or broken in a very simple manner and with a minimum expenditure of effort, so that it may be conveniently folded or collapsed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved base or foot assembly of the knocked-down type, whereby the costumer may be packaged so as to occupy a minimum space, Which'is an important feature from a shipping standpoint.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described, and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:--

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a costumer constructed according to my invention, the costumer being shown in its collapsed or folded condition;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the costumer in its extended position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view, in side elevation, of the upper bracing means which constitutes a support adapted to sustain a relatively large number of garment hangers from which the garments may be suspended, the

dotted lines illustrating the brace in its fully extended, locked position, and the full lines illustrating the brace in a broken or partially folded position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the brace in its fully extended condition, as viewed from the underside thereof;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View, partly in section, illustrating the construction and pivotal connection of an end of the upper brace with one of the halves of the costumer standard;

Figure '7 is a horizontal sectional view through the costumer standard in its collapsed position, and particularly illustrating the instrumentalities for releasably holding the costumer in its collapsed condition;

Figure 8 is an elevation of the lower portion of one of the complemental halves of the costumer, and particularly illustrating my improved base assembly as viewed from the inward side thereof; and

Figure 9 is a view generally similar to Figure 6, and illustrating a somewhat modified form of brace end and standard construction for maintaining the complemental standard sections in parallel relation when the brace arms are fully extended.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, I have shown my costumer as embodying a pair of upright complemental standard sections or halves, respective ly designated I and 2. The lower end of each standard section is provided with feet, generally designated l' and 2, and adjacent to the upper ends of the standard sections are mounted a plurality of hooks, designated 3, upon which garments may behung in the usual manner.

The inner faces of the standard sections 5 and 2 are each provided with upper and lower longitudinal grooves 4, 4and 5, 5, which are adapted respectively to receive the upper and lower folding braces 6 and I, so as to completely conceal these braces when the costumer sections are collapsed together as illustrated in Figure 1.

The lower brace I may be of any conventional form, having a pair of arms 8 and 9 hingedly connected together, as at Iii, so as to break upwardly to permit the arms to be folded together in collapsing the costumer. The outer extremities of the arms 8 and 9 are respectively received in the grooves 5, and are pivotally connected to the respective standard sections I and 2, as by means of the transversely extending pins or pintles I I and I2, each of which extends transversely through the standard section and the end of the brace arm. Sufficient clearance is afforded between the extreme outer ends of the arms 8 and 9 and the bottom of the grooves 5 to enable the arms to swing upwardly about the pivots II and I2, without binding. The center hinge is preferably of such construction as to prevent the arms from folding downwardly beyond their horizontally aligned position, and this construction may have any suitable form, according to the many wellknown types of hinge joints which are available. It will be understood that when the arms 8 and 9 are fully extended, they will remain extended by their own weight, and thereby brace the lower ends of the standard sections I and 2 apart, maintaining such braced relation until the hinged joint IE is broken upwardly by a manual operation, preparatory to collapsing the standard sections together.

Now the upper brace 55 is of special construction which I have designed, and which is provided with an improved locking means for locking the respective arms or links I3 and I 4 in a rigidly aligned condition, and without the aid of separate parts such as have heretofore been required. In other words, the brace 5 is of a very simple and efficient form, embodying a minimum number of parts, principally two parts, and is accordingly readily adaptable to inexpensive production, as by casting. Of course, the parts may be made in other manners than by casting, if desired, but I prefer to make each arm I3 and I4 from a single piece of material and having the locking instrumentalities integrally formed therewith.

The arms I 3 and I 4 are respectively provided with overlapping ears I5 and I6, as best seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4, which are suitably apertured to receive a pin or rivet I! which serves to hingedly connect the arms together. One of the arms, in this instance arm I3, is extended as at I8, beyond the point of pivotal connection of the two arms, and when the arms are fully extended into alignment, the extension I8 is adapted to lie alongside of the arm I l. Preferably, the extension I8 is only approximately half the thickness of the section of the arm which lies on the opposite side of the pivot ll, the arm I4 is recessed, as at I9, to a depth approximately equal to the thickness of the extension I8, so that when the arms are aligned as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 and in full lines in Figure 4, the uniform continuity of the cross-sectional dimensions of the arms is preserved. This eliminates any material projections or shoulders resulting from the overlapping of the extension I8 with the arm I4, and provides a substantially smooth-surfaced, bar-like support, upon which garment hangers and the like may be hung and slid along the support as desired, such as when making room for other hangers.

Preferably, the brace 6 breaks in a downward direction, as best illustrated in Figure 3, and by reason of such an arrangement, I am enabled to mount the brace B on the standard sections I and 2 relative y close to the upper extremities thereof, thereby aifording ample room between the braces 6 and I in which to hang garments which are adapted to be suspended from the brace 6, and without causing the garment to contact with the floor. The shoulders 28 and 2|, respectively on the arms I3 and HI, prevent the brace 6 from breaking upwardly, as will be obvious. When fully extended to aligned position, the shoulders 20 and ?.I are in abutting engagement, thereby limiting the upward movement of the arms I3 and I4, beyond the horizontal when unfolding or extend-' ing the costumer to the condition shown in Figure 2. The outer extremities of the arms I3 and I4 are respectively pivotally connected to the standard sections I and 2, in much the same manner as the lower brace arms 8 and 9. Preferably, the outer extremities of the arms I3 and I4 are of special construction for the purpose of positively insuring that the standard sections I and 2 will be maintained in a substantially parallel upright relation to each other, thereby further insuring the stability of the costumer when in its extended condition, as will hereinafter become more apparent.

Inasmuch as the brace 6 is adapted to be broken or folded downwardly, means must be provided for locking the arms I3 and I4 in their horizontally aligned position to provide a rigid support for the garment hangers. To this end, I preferably provide the extension It of arm I3 with a laterally offstanding lug or projection 22, which extends towards the other arm I4, and is adapted to be received in a recess 23 former in the side face of the recess I9. The lug 22 is relatively short in length so as not to materially interfere with the alignment of the arms I3 and I4 in unfolding or extending the brace. Ordinarily, the lug will readily pass by the lower edge of the arm I4 during the unfolding of the brace, and snap into the recess 23, although sometimes it may be necessary to apply a slight lateral pressure to the extension I8 to spring the same away I from the arm I4 slightly as the extension approaches the end of its movement into the recess I9, and as the lug 22 approaches the recess 23. When the lug 22 is received in the recess 23, the brace parts will assume an interlocked condition, as best seen in Figures 4 and 5. To release or unlock the brace so as to permit it to be folded downwardly, it is merely necessary to apply a slight lateral pressure to the extension I8, in an amount sufiicient to spring the extension I8 laterally away from the adjacent arm 54, whereby to Withdraw the lug 22 from its recess 23. When the lug 22 is so released, the weight of the arms I3 and I4 will automatically break the hinge downwardly preparatory to enabling the arms to be folded together completely. If the friction at the joints is too great to allow the hinge to break automatically by the weight of the arms when the lug 22 is released from the recess 23, a slight downward pressure or pull on the brace will start the collapsing of the brace. as will be obvious.

To facilitate the springing of the extension I8 away from the adjacent arm I4, as in withdrawing the lug 22 from its recess 23 to permit the brace to be collapsed, I preferably provide a fingerpiece, generally designated 24, on the free extremity of the extension. This fingerpiece, as best shown in Figures 4 and 5, is laterally off-set in the direction of projection of the lug 22, and the arm I4 is suitably notched, as at 25. and recessed, as at 25, to respectively receive the transversely extending portion 21, and the longi tudinally extending portion 28 of the fingerpiece 24, so that the finger-piece will not project beyond the surface of the arm I4, and hence the uniform continuity of the brace is fully preserved. It will be noted that the recess 26 is slightly greater in depth than the thickness of the portion 28 of the fingerpiece, whereby to leave a space therebetween, as at 29, which allows for suflicient lateral springing movement of the e):-

arms, although if they respectively tension l8 away from the arm [4 when pressure is applied laterally against the outer face of the fingerpiece, to withdraw the lug 22 from its recess 23, when the arms l3 and M are in their aligned and interlocked position.

Theouter extremity of each arm 13 and Id of brace 6, is received in one of the grooves and is p-ivotally connected with the standard section, as by means of the transversely extending pins or pintles 30 and SI. Each outer extremity is preferably rounded, as best illustrated in Figure 6. In Figure 6, only one arm, arm It, is illustrated, and it is to be understood that the pivotal connection of arm I3 with standard section I, and the rounded construction of the outer extremity of arm I 3, is identical with the connection and construction of arm 1 as illustrated in this figure. In rounding the outer extremity of each arm, it will be observed that the curvature extends downwardly and inwardly, as indicated by the reference character 32. This aifords ample clearance to permit the brace arm to be folded downwardly about its pivotal connection with the standard section, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 6, so that when the brace is completely collapsed, the arms will be respectively received in the longitudinal grooves l, one arm in each groove. The outer upper corner 33 of each arm, from which the curvature 32 extends downwardly, i so positioned that when the arm is unfolded to a horizontal position, the corner 33 will abut against the bottom of the groove 4, or against a suitable bearing plate 35, mounted in the bottom of the groove thereby preventing the arm from unfolding to a position forming an angle with the standard section, greater than a right angle. This will be obvious from Figure 6. When both arms i3 and U! have been unfolded to their horizontally aligned positions, and interlocked as hereinbefore explained, the standard sections '5 and 2 are both firmly braced against inadvertent tilting towards and from each other, thereby positively insuring that the standard sections will be always upright when the costumer is extended, as illustrated in Figure 2. The rounded extremities of the arms l3 and [4 will be adequate to secure these results, although, if desired, the outer extremities of the arms 8 and 9 of the lower brace I may be similarly constructed and arranged. It is, however, not necessary to round the ends of these latter are rounded. the curvature should extend from the outer lower corner of each arm, upwardly and inwardly, inasmuch as the brace l is adapted to fold upwardly.

When the costumer is collapsed to bring the standard sections l and 2 together, as shown in Figure 1, it is desirable to have some means for securing the sections together so as to maintain such collapsed condition. For this purpose, I have provided on one standard, male members 35, having the form of headed pins, which are mounted adjacent to the upper and lower extremities of the standard. Ordinary wood screws are-suitable for the purposes of these headed pins just referred to. and as best seen in Figure '7, the screws are screwed into the standard section at the base of the longitudinal groove, there being preferably one screw in each of the grooves 4 and 5, so that the head of the screw lies slightly beyond the inner face of the standand section and faces towards the opposite standard section. The other standard section is provided with complemental female clamping bers 36, having substantially U-shaped form. and

being made of spring metal or equivalent material, whereby to frictionally engage the headed ends of the pins 35. The members 36 are preferably mounted in the respective longitudinal grooves l and 5 of the standard section which carries the same, and preferably do not extend beyond the inner face of said section. The outer extremities of the clamping arms 31 of the members are preferably flared, as at 38, to facilitate the entrance of the heads 3d of the pin members 35, therebetween, and when so entered, the heads 39 frictionally interengage with the shoulders All so as to prevent the parts from becoming too easily separated, However, by exerting a pull on the standard sections in a direction tending to separate the same, the pin members 35 and the clamping members 35 may be readily pulled apart, allowing the costumer to be conveniently opened up or extended.

Referring now to the foot or base assemblies i and 2', and calling attention particularly to Figure in which one of said foot assemblies is illustrated in detail, each foot assembly is composed of a long, transversely extending member ll, the ends of which constitute oppositely disposed feet 62 and 53. A relatively short member forms a third foot :5, and this latter memher at is disposed at right angles to the member ll. The two members 4! and 44 are pref- Y crossed. and recessed one within the other at their intersection, as best seen in Figures 2 and 8, and are suitably connected with the lower end of the standard section so that their inner faces flush with the inner face of the latter. in connecting the foot members to the standard ection, rably employ fastening means -aving the form of a threaded bolt 16, having one permanently mounted in the lower end of the tandard section, and having its other end exmembers All and M at the intersection of the latter. A nut il is provided to draw the foot members tightly against the bottom of the standard section. To brace the feet and to asin firmly securing the same to the standard 7 sections, I provide a plurality of brace members having substantially triangular-shaped form, there being one brace member for each foot disposed in the corner or crotch formed between each foot and the standard section. The vertical edges of the members 48 are preferably secured to the standard section by dowels 49, while the bottom horizontal edges of the brace members are secured to the feet, as by wood screws 59, which pass through the feet from the underside thereof and upwardly into the brace members 48. By reason of the construction just described, the fastening means for the foot assembly are all completely concealed, while at the same time, they permit the feet to be readily knocked down or taken apart, whenever this is desired. The assembly of the feet is exceedingly simple and can be quickly accomplished with a minimum of effort.

It will be observed that the feet 42 and 43 are only half the width of the feet 25. Likewise, the brace members it which lie in the corners formed the feet 5?. and i3 and the standard sections, are only half the width of the other brace memwhich lie in the corners formed by the feet id and the standard sections. Consequently, when the costumer folded to its collapsed condition shown in Figure 1, the foot assembly will he symmetrical and identical on all sides, exceptending below the same so as to pass through ing that at certain of the sides the feet and braces are composed of complemental halves.

The construction and operation of the costumer should be obvious from the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, and it will be understood that when the costumer is extended to the condition shown in Figure 2, the upper brace 6 serves as an efficient auxiliary garment support, from which garments may be conveniently suspended, as well as from the usual hooks 3. When the additional supporting function of the brace 53 is not required, the costumer may be collapsed to the condition illustrated in Figure 1, thereby occupying minimum of space and presenting substantially the same appearance and having the same utility as an ordinary costumer. To collapse the costumer, it is merely necessary to unlock the brace 6, as by applying a slight lateral pressure to the fingerpiece 26, while at the same time, urging the arms 53 and i downwardly. During the collapsing of the brace 8, the lower brace 1 should also be folded, as by lifting the arms 8 and 9 upwardly with the foot, or otherwise, as desired. When the hinge joints I! and I5? of braces 5 and 1 respectively, have been broken, the standard sections i and 2 may be readily moved towards each other until their inner faces meet, and during the last portion of the closing movement of the costumer halves, the friction latch members 35 and will become interengaged and firmly hold the sections together until such time as it is desired to extend the costumer to its extended condition.

In Figure 9, there is shown a somewhat modified construction for accomplishing the same r sults produced by the curved extremities of the upper brace arms as illustrated in Figure 6. It will be understood, of course, that while Figure 9 shows only a fragmentary part of one of the complemental standard sections 5' and a fragmentary part of one of the brace arms 13, it is intended that the parts be duplicated for the other half of the costumer, that is, the other standard section and brace arm. As illustrated in Figure 9, the brace arm i3 is extended, as at 66, beyond the point of pivotal connection of the arm with the standard section i, the pivotal connection being designated Si! and constituting a pin or pintle transversely extending across the slot or groove 4 in the upper portion of the standard section I. This coextensive protuberant part 6!! provides a shoulder 61 which is adapted to abut against a shoulder or ledge 62 formed within the slot or groove 4' of the standard section I. Instead of making the groove 4 of uniform depth from top to bottom as in the construction illustrated in Figures 2, 6 and 7, the upper portion of the groove 4 may be cut deeper to form the shoulder 62 just referred to. Thus, when the costumer is fully extended, and the upper brace arms are locked in horizontal alignment, the protuberant extension 65 on each of the complemental brace arms will abut and bear firmly against the shoulder 32,

there being one shoulder 52 in each of the upper" most grooves of the complemental standard sections, whereby to positively stabilize the costumer and maintain the complemental standard sections in upright parallel relation to each other. Accordingly, the standard sections will be prevented from swaying to one side or the other when opened up or extended as generally illustrated in Figure 2.

When the costumer is collapsed, as generally illustrated in Figure 1, the bracearms having the construction illustrated in Figure 9 will be received in the grooves and fully concealed, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 9. Suificient clearance, as at 63, is provided to permit the brace arms to freely swing about the pivotal connection such as 30' of Figure 9. As in the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and '7, the same latch means or complemental male and female frictionally engaging members may be provided in association with the modified construction of the brace arms and complemental standard sections shown in Figure 9 for the purpose of holding the costumer in the collapsed condition of Figure 1. One of these latch members, that is, the male member, is designated 35 in Figure 9, and it will be understood that a complemental female member will be provided on the other standard section which cooperates with the section I.

While the specific details have been herein shown and described, the invention is not confined thereto, as changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A costumer of the class described, comprising a pair of complemental standard sections, and brace means connecting said standard sect ons together adjacent to the upper extremities of the latter, said brace means including a pair of arms pivotally connected together, the outer extremities of said arms being respectively connected to the standard sections, one of said brace arms being extended beyond the point of its pivotal connection with the other arm so as to extend alongside of the latter when the arms are extended into substantially horizontal alignment with each other, detent means carried by the extended portion of the first mentioned arm and projecting towards the other arm, said other arm having a depression therein for receiving said detent means, and means at the free extremity of the detent carrying extension for disengaging said detent means from said depression, whereby to enable said brace means to be collapsed and permit the standard sections to be brought together.

2. A costumer of the class described, comprising a pair of complemental standard sections, and brace means connecting said standard sections together adjacent to the upper extremities of the latter, said brace means including a pair of arms pivotally connected together, the outer extremities of said arms being respectively connected to the standard sections, one of said brace arms being extended beyond the point of its pivotal connection with the other arm so as to extend alongside of the latter when the arms are extended into substantially horizontal alignment with each other, detent means carried by the extended portion of the first mentioned arm and projecting towards the other arm, said other arm having a depression therein for receiving said detent means, and means for disengaging said detent means from said depression, whereby to enable said brace means to be collapsed and permit the standard sections to be brought together, said last mentioned means comprising a fingerpiece laterally offset from the extended arm, the other arm having a recess for receiving said fingerpiece when the arms are substantially aligned as aforesaid, and said fingerpiece being laterally spaced from the side wall of the recess to permit the same to be pressed towards the side wall to spring the extended arm laterally away from the other arm and release the detent means from engagement with the depression.

3. A costumer of the class described, comprising a pair of complemental standard sections each having a base serving to support the same in substantially vertical position, and brace means interconnecting the same, said brace means including a pair of arms pivotally connected together, means for releasably locking said arms in extended horizontal alignment, with the standard sections disposed in spaced vertically parallel position, the outer extremities of said arms being respectively pivotally connected with the standard sections and having coextensive protuberant projections beyond the points of pivotal connection with the standard sections aforesaid, adapted to limit relative movement of said arms respecting said standard sections, and said standard sections having shoulders provided thereon and constituting abutment means against which the protuberant projections of the brace arms are adapted to bear when the arms are fully extended, whereby to positively maintain the standard sections in vertical parallel relation to each other.

ROLLO BURKETT CURTISS. 

